SCOTT LEATHERBARROW FROM RAMSBOTTOM FINED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND BESTIALITY VIDEOS

In December 2021, a man from Ramsbottom named Scott Leatherbarrow faced legal proceedings after being found in possession of illegal and highly disturbing material on his mobile device. The case revealed troubling details about his online activities, which included the receipt and exchange of child abuse images within a WhatsApp group.

According to court records, Leatherbarrow, aged 44 at the time, along with his acquaintances, engaged in what was described as “laddish” behavior, often sharing explicit and pornographic images among themselves. The authorities became aware of his involvement after an investigation uncovered that he had received seven images depicting child sexual abuse on his phone in November 2017.

Further examination of his devices revealed a more disturbing element: a video depicting bestiality involving a pig. The police conducted a thorough search of 18 electronic devices belonging to Leatherbarrow, but the indecent material was only located on one device, a mobile phone he had been using since September of that year.

Initially, prosecutors accused Leatherbarrow of actively downloading the illegal images and videos. However, it was later established that the material had been shared within a WhatsApp group, and there was no evidence to suggest he had searched for or actively sought out such content himself.

Leatherbarrow, who resides at Acre Close in Ramsbottom, appeared before Manchester Minshull Street Court to face sentencing. During the hearing, Judge Angela Nield questioned the prosecutor, Antony Longworth, about the nature of the images involved. She asked whether all the images in question had been sent to Leatherbarrow, to which the prosecutor confirmed that they had been transmitted via WhatsApp, and there was no evidence indicating he had searched for or downloaded the images himself.

In her judgment, Judge Nield decided to impose a fine of £500 on Leatherbarrow and discharged the case, meaning no further punishment was deemed necessary. She noted that the images involved did not fall into the highest categories of severity previously seen in court and that the number of images was relatively small. The judge also remarked that this court appearance should serve as a significant warning to Leatherbarrow.

Furthermore, Judge Nield acknowledged the unique circumstances of the case, which allowed her to deviate from standard sentencing guidelines, emphasizing the importance of context in such sensitive matters.